7 minutes agoNATO strains reports with Russia: Trying to interfere with Balkan affairs
Periskopi(7 years ago)
(7 years ago)NATO said Russia has made efforts to intervene and influence Balkan countries that want to join the military defence coalition. Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, made these comments in an exclusive interview for Euronews in Brussels. He spoke on the day when the Republic of Northern Macedonia signed a [...]
Secretary - General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, made these comments in an exclusive interview for Euronews in Brussels.
He spoke on the day when the Republic of Northern Macedonia signed a pact that would pave the way for this country for NATO membership.
Macedonia Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov and Secretary General NATO, Jens Stoltenberg at the conference after signing the membership protocol.
“Russia tries to intervene, Russia tries to intervene in political processes in sovereign states. I think such a thing is wrong”, Stoltenberg said.
“NATO respects them, we respect the decisions of independent sovereign states, whether they want to enter NATO or not to enter NATO”, he added.
“in Skopje we have seen that most in parliament, most political parties want NATO membership. We welcome this. But in Serbia, for example, they have clearly said they do not want to enter NATO, and we respect that. Therefore, Russia must respect decisions made by sovereign nations, even if they want to join NATO, even if they don't want”, the chief said. NATO.
Stoltenberg also spoke of the departure of Washington and Moscow from the Middle Line Nuclear Forces Treaty.
The pact, which, according to the US, has been violated by Russia, has banned the two countries from using short- and medium-range missiles.
“We do not want a new arms race and we will try to persuade Russia to return in line with the” treaty, Stoltenberg said.
The “is a six-month period until the withdrawal process is finalised. During this period, Russia can return. Our answers will be measured, they will be protective. We will examine not only military consequences but also how we can take new initiatives on gun control. We have to make sure that NATO in a world without the Middle-Rout Nuclear Forces Treaty and with more Russian missiles ʹ is able to provide effective protection”, Stoltenberg said.
The treaty was signed in 1987 by then US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.
The treaty, which has eliminated an entire missile class from Europe, is considered key to strategic stability between Washington and Moscow.
